Harvey Barron, playing on the wing for Hull FC, recorded his first senior hat‑trick as the club halted a dismal run of seven consecutive defeats with a dramatic 32‑18 comeback win at St Helens' BrewDog Stadium. The three‑try performance not only revived Hull’s hopes of steering clear of the Super League’s dreaded wooden spoon, but it also deepened the uncertainty surrounding the Saints' chances of securing a place in the end‑of‑season playoffs. Hull FC entered the match having failed to win at the BrewDog Stadium for a decade, enduring ten straight losses there over the past nine years. Sitting just two points above the league’s bottom‑placed side, Huddersfield Giants, the Tigers were desperate for a turnaround.
Their interim coach, Andy Last, managed to out‑maneuver his counterpart, Eamon O'Carroll, who had just overseen Saints suffer a historic defeat at York – the first loss in more than 80 years at that venue. The first half was tightly contested, with St Helens holding a narrow 14‑10 lead as the teams approached the break.
In the dying seconds of the half, Barron broke through the Saints' defense to score his inaugural senior try, putting Hull back within striking distance. Just three minutes into the second half, substitute forward Cade Cust added another try, extending the lead and igniting a surge that would see Hull score 16 points in an eleven‑minute spell. This sudden burst of points stunned the Saints, who were still adjusting after the abrupt departure of head coach Paul Rowley the previous month – a tenure that lasted less than a year. Despite securing their first away win on Saints’ turf since August 2017, Hull remained in 13th place, now level on points with the Bradford Bulls.
St Helens, a club that has never missed the playoffs in its history, found itself sitting seventh, with all the teams above them still having games to play in the coming weeks. The match featured several pivotal moments. Early on, full‑back Logan Moy committed a knock‑on that was capitalised on by Saints winger Lewis Murphy, who slotted the ball into the corner for the opening try.
Hull responded quickly; just five minutes after the kickoff, a precise pass from Zak Hardaker found Barron, who crossed for the first of his three tries. The Saints reclaimed the lead in the 18th minute when Tom Briscoe was penalised for a high tackle, allowing them to add points via a penalty kick.
Hull’s forward Herman Ese'ese appeared to have a second try disallowed for a double movement, and both he and Barron were repeatedly repelled by the Saints’ defence. However, stand‑off Jake Arthur delivered a clever double cut‑out pass that freed Lewis Martin, who finished in the left corner to bring the score to 10‑8 in Hull’s favour.
Barron was denied a second try later by a last‑ditch cover tackle, and the Saints seemed to regain momentum when Jack Welsby sprinted 30 metres to score a try that appeared to level the contest. In the final minutes, Saints captain James Hastings was forced off the field with 37 seconds left. Just 34 seconds later, Barron capitalised on an angled kick from Aidan Sezer, diving over the line to complete his hat‑trick. Initially, video referee Chris Kendall appeared to overturn the decision, citing a potential infringement, but after review the try was awarded, cementing Hull’s dominance.
Both of Barr’s tries and Cust’s effort were successfully converted by Hardaker, effectively putting the game out of reach for St Helens. A consolation try by Harry Robertson for the Saints was followed by a 70th‑minute penalty from Hardaker, sealing a 32‑18 victory for Hull FC.
The Tigers added a final flourish with a try from former Saint James Bell, rounding off a comprehensive performance. The weekend also featured action in the Women’s Super League.
In the inaugural match of the new Super Four format, the defending champions Wigan Warriors overwhelmed St Helens with a 44‑6 triumph at the BrewDog Stadium. Wigan’s Ellise Derbyshire and Eva Hunter each recorded a brace, while Anna Davies, Molly Jones, Remi Wilton, Jenna Foubister and Mary Coleman contributed additional scores, showcasing the depth of talent in the squad. Looking ahead, Sky Sports has committed to broadcasting every Super League game live this season.
Two matches each round will be shown exclusively live on the main channel, while the remaining five fixtures will be available via Sky Sports+. This comprehensive coverage ensures that fans can follow the drama of the league, from Hull’s resurgence to the ongoing battles for playoff spots and the fight to avoid relegation.